The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1887-12-16
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AuS AVAfh w Bhtbk kGIWAHAAHAAVuNkMs
Tho territorial librarian.
The commissioners TO locate scheol for
detective youth.
The commissioners to locate insane asy.
lum In Eastern Washington.
The artesisn well commissioners.
The board Of education.
The commissioner Of the American exhi.
bltion Ia London.
The health Off er at Port Townsend.
All those pamphlets contain informa.
ton upon the administration Of the Terri.
torlal government and suggestions EN-.
bodying the experience OF the officers writ.
Ing them, which win doubtless be- Of ser.
vice to your honorable body.
RESTRICTION on LIQUIDATION.
There II an act OF Congress, approve
July 10. 1883, by which the powers OF ter.
ritorial legislatures are very much mar.
rowed. II must be borne In mind, how.
ever. That legislation on the subjects emu.
merated Is not prohibited. 1t Is merely
provided that the statutes must be- general
In their application. print this act here
with for the econvenienee Of reference by
MINING AND IRRIGATION.
| Owing to recent extensive discoveries Of
| mines OF precious aud other metals in this
/ territory, a necessity exists for the com.
| pletion and adoption Of a code Of mining
laws. Laws should also be passed reguiat-
ng sle use OF water for mining and irrl.
eating purposes. Owing 20 the rapid set.
element Of the country. conflicts have al.
ready ariasn In regard to these matters,
aud as rights become vested. the question
assumes more difficult shape every year.
II laws are passed at this time regulating
the whole matter. much expensive litiga.
tlon will be avoided.
couirfcATtoS or THE LAWS.
The laws OF this Territory, owing "a
careless legislation and decisions Of The
courts, are IN such = state Of confusion
that II Is very difficult even for expert
eneed members of the bar 10 arrive at any
definite Inclusion In regard 10 them
much lees can citizen exastly determine
the rules that govern his eoduct, or the
laws that guarantee his rights and privi
leReA. Consultation of our laws by oul
/ citizens is rendered still more difficult b,
the absence nf anything that can properls
be called an indeS 20 the volumes. II
! remedy these faults there seems 90 be- d
general desire for the codtIicafion Of on
statutes. | suggest that instead Of q codi
ucation of our present laws, q commission
be eaeatrd and instructed 10 prepare fO
submission To ths next Legislature a eisil
criminal and probate code. beinl
guided IN their iabors by sdh renee 10 thu
spirit OF our laws a. heretofore instituted
3 a. II IL IL Ill 4.
unde. separate Il nd and provide compe
tent index for the whole system.
GROSS gARsIsGs ACT.
II il undoubtedly the viii Of the peopl
that the act Of the legislature approve
, November ~, eS'. known as tie gros
earnings tax Law. should be repealed
] While this should be done at this scion
) your constituents will undoubtedly expee
that you devise some better scheme OF tar
alton of railway properties In It's place
i The conclusion has beer reached by tn
J. people Of this territory that railway cor
i porationa have not been bearing their du
share of the burdens Of taxation. Tn
pe pie are not wrong in this matter, AM
b they confidently expect their just com
4 paints in that regard will be heard b
: your honorable body. aud a remedy pro
vided. Questions of revenue arr Away
, difficult 10 deai with. and require mucl
, research and thought. bat have no doub
. | that your honorable body will be able {
formulate hiii In the premises, which
while entirely just 10 them. wili effectu
: ally enforce unon railway corporation
their duty OF supporting the government
y In their due proportion. The peopl
e simply want fair play in this matter.
PRErGHTs AND FARES.
/ On my recent trip TO he eastern part O
!, the territory | heard many complaints O
:, exorbitant charges on the part OF raiiwa
y companies for carrying the crops TO tn
!. .e board. The people believe these com
: paints 10 bis just and are looking n th
legislature for some kind of relief II tn
transportation companies would come foi
o ward In good faith aud cooperate with In
! agent Of the people i'm a effort 20 prepar
= a measure that would be just to Eli cor
/. cerned. there wonid not be much difficult
y in solving the problem. UnfortunRtely
o however, they appear To have pursued a
n obstructive policy and 10 have denied th
! right of the legislatures Gf the people {
interfere in the premises. Under thes
z circumstances the work Of devising prope
I. regulations 5eromes one Of great difficulty
= All that can be done Is 20 devise statut
that appears To answer the purpose an
y subsequently amend IL, as defects are M
= ticed In practice, until 10 becomes as pel
s feet "a may be. The right Of the legisls
. ture to regulate freights and fares shoul
= not be doubted. however, aud they shoul
never forego their determination to exel
!, else IL.
!, FISHERY LAWS.
!, During the past season an effort wa
made TO enforce the laws Of the territoarl
Z which provide for close season for sa
" mon In the Columbia river. Learnin
s that the laws were being generally n,
elected, | made two visits TO the rive
c unties and personally co-operated wit
g the sherltfs there to enforce cessation {
II illegal fishing. This was finally accom-
: plished. more, perhaps, by common col
!, sent than from fear OF the laws. whic
! were considered to be d fficult OF enforcs
d ments owing to alleged technical defect,
. The salmon fishe les Of the Columbia an
other Washington territory rivers wi
yield from two To three million dollars %
e annum, according TO the season, for an In
d definite time, II prudently and econom
!, cally MANAGED. As at present managet
however. the industry will be destroys
q within the next five years. / suggest fhs
G the matter is.of such Importance that
II would justify the appointment of q specis
committee to consider IL. A committee
the Oregon legislature was appointed 4
2 the last session of that body aud give
d power 70 incur travelling expenses and II
structed to report upon the whole fisher
que tion. As the two commonwealth M
e Jointly interested in the protection of tn
Ia Cnlumhia fahaqfaa 4 vantx.rad - xn~,.o.